Respiratory Therapist (RRT)

Respiratory TherapistPer Diem

Listed compensation

$44.20/hr

The week · per this posting

Schedule not stated in this posting — no days, weekends, call or nights given.

Ask the employer about the work setting, call expectations, weekend coverage and time off.

Posted 1h ago · Verified live

Job Description

Join an award-winning team of dedicated professionals committed to our core values of quality, compassion and community! Saint Michael's Medical Center, a member of Prime Healthcare, offers incredible opportunities to expand your horizons and be part of a community dedicated to making a difference.

Established by the Franciscan Sisters of the Poor in 1867, Saint Michael's Medical Center is a 358-bed regional tertiary-care, teaching, and research center in the heart of Newark's business and educational district and is accredited by The Joint Commission. Combining state-of-the-art technology, the latest diagnostic and therapeutic procedures, leading-edge research, and a network of highly qualified physicians, nurses, and allied health professionals, the hospital provides top-quality health care services delivered with compassionate care.

The first medical institution in New Jersey to perform open-heart surgery, and the first to develop a cardiac catheterization program, Saint Michael's Medical Center is home to the Heart and Vascular Institute, which offers a comprehensive array of innovative cardiac treatments and procedures. Learn more at smmcnj.com.

Responsibilities

Under the direction and authorization of the medical director and cardiopulmonary director or manager, the Respiratory Care Practitioner II (RCP II) is responsible for performing respiratory therapeutic and pulmonary diagnostic procedures as ordered by the ordering provider.

Emphasis will be toward the assessment, planning, implementation, and documentation of care, with consideration of age and population specific needs and requirements of the patient. May on occasion be assigned/identified as Lead RCP, having responsibility for the section or department during their shift.

Qualifications

EDUCATION, EXPERIENCE, TRAINING

1. Current State Respiratory Care Practitioner (RCP) license required.

2. Current Registered Respiratory Therapist (RRT) from the National Board of Respiratory Care (NBRC) or obtained within three (3) months of hire.

3. Basic Life Support (BLS) certified from the American Heart Association (AHA) or American Red Cross (ARC) upon hire and maintain current.

4. Adult Cardiac Life Support (ACLS) from the AHA or ARC certification upon hire and maintain current.

5. Pediatric Advanced Life Support (PALS) from the AHA certification upon hire and maintain current or obtained within 60 days of hire.

6. Neonatal Resuscitation Program certificate is preferred.

7. Associate Degree or Bachelor of Science degree preferred.

8. Two (2) years of acute care experience is preferred.

Pay Transparency

Saint Michaels Medical Center offers competitive compensation and the current compensation range for this role is $44.20. Benefits may vary based on collective bargaining agreement requirements and/or the employment status.

The exact starting compensation to be offered will be determined at the time of selecting an applicant for hire, in which a wide range of factors will be considered, including but not limited to, skillset, years of applicable experience, education, credentials and licensure.

Employment Status: Per Diem

Shift: Variable

Equal Employment Opportunity

Company is an equal employment opportunity employer.

Company prohibits discrimination against any applicant or employee based on race, color, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, religion, national origin, age (subject to applicable law), disability, military status, genetic information or any other basis protected by applicable federal, state, or local laws.

The Company also prohibits harassment of applicants or employees based on any of these protected categories. Know Your Rights: eeoc.gov

Qualifications

Education
Bachelor degree
Experience
2+ years of experience

Certifications

NRP (preferred)

Key Skills

Respiratory TherapyRespiratory AssessmentCare PlanningRespiratory TreatmentPulmonary DiagnosticsPatient Care DocumentationAge-Specific CareAdvanced Cardiac Life Support

Respiratory Therapy Career Context

Of the 40 active Respiratory Therapy listings this role was benchmarked against, 50% have no call, 53% require no weekends.

The cost-of-living index for New Jersey is 108.8 (US average = 100; BEA Regional Price Parities (2024)), so the posted ~$92k midpoint carries the purchasing power of roughly $84k in an average-cost state. 63.8% of New Jersey clinicians report burnout symptoms in WeekdayDoc's Burnout Index (2026-01 data).

Top contract/1099 Respiratory Therapist Jobs

36 matches · ranked by pay

Salary Distribution25 jobs · 21 employers

8
<$90k
7
$90k-105k
7
$105k-120k
2
$120k-135k
1
$139k

Annual compensation range

Benefits & Perks27 jobs · 21 employers

401k / retirement match
85%
Sign-on bonus
33%
Loan repayment
11%
PSLF eligible
7%
Relocation assistance
4%

Share of similar jobs offering each benefit

#1

Respiratory Therapist System Float

MultiCare Health System · Auburn, Washington

$41.44-$68.5/hr
#2

Respiratory Therapist - per diem, day shiftPer Diem

Beth Israel Lahey Health · Danvers, Minnesota

$39.59-$58.83/hr
#3

Respiratory Therapist

$37.61-$55.27/hr
#4

Respiratory Therapist

$35.5-$53.25/hr
+ 34 more · ranked by pay

Work-life snapshot

median 3.0this job 3.0
Better work-life than 50% of Respiratory Therapy listings

Listing-based score, 0–10, across 3,866 comparable listings. Shaded area = the share scoring below this one.

Living in Newark

Typical 3-bedroom home value
$448k
Typical market rent
$2,114/mo
Residents’ average commute
33 min
State income tax
Up to 10.8%
Sources & methodology

Sources: Zillow home values (Aug 2026), Zillow market rents (Aug 2026), U.S. Census ACS 2024 five-year.

City-level figures. Not a cost-of-living guarantee.